Joshua Jackson Mourns James Van Der Beek's Death, Reflects on the "Enormity" of His Loss

The "Dawson's Creek" co-stars shared a close bond, with Jackson opening up about his "ongoing grief" over Van Der Beek's passing.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Joshua Jackson has spoken out for the first time about the death of his "Dawson's Creek" co-star James Van Der Beek, who passed away in February 2026 at the age of 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer. Jackson reflected on the "enormity" of the loss, especially as a father himself, and shared fond memories of their time filming the beloved TV show together in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Why it matters

The loss of James Van Der Beek, a beloved actor and father of six, has deeply impacted his former co-stars and the wider entertainment community. Joshua Jackson's public comments shed light on the personal grief and lasting impact of Van Der Beek's passing.

The details

In a Today show interview on what would have been Van Der Beek's 49th birthday, Jackson opened up about how the tragedy "hits in a variety of different ways," especially now that he is a father himself. Jackson praised Van Der Beek as "a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father." The two actors had become close friends while filming "Dawson's Creek" together in the late 1990s.

  • Joshua Jackson spoke out on March 9, 2026, which would have been James Van Der Beek's 49th birthday.
  • James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026 at the age of 48 after battling colorectal cancer.

The players

Joshua Jackson

An actor who played Pacey Witter on the TV series "Dawson's Creek" alongside James Van Der Beek. Jackson is now a father and has continued to reflect on the loss of his former co-star and close friend.

James Van Der Beek

The actor who played the title role of Dawson Leery on the TV series "Dawson's Creek." Van Der Beek passed away in 2026 at the age of 48 after battling colorectal cancer, leaving behind his wife Kimberly and their six children.

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What they’re saying

“For me as a father now, the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So I think the processing is ongoing.”

— Joshua Jackson, Actor (Today)

“He became what we used to just call a good man, a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father.”

— Joshua Jackson, Actor (Today)

The takeaway

The loss of James Van Der Beek has deeply impacted his former "Dawson's Creek" co-star Joshua Jackson, who is still processing the "enormity" of the tragedy, especially as a father himself. Their close friendship and shared experiences on the beloved TV show have made Van Der Beek's passing all the more difficult to grapple with.